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Every NFL Team's Most Underrated Wide Receiver of All Time. Read Every NFL Team's Most Underrated Wide Receiver of All Time. Who is the most underrated WR of all time
Every NFL Team's Most Underrated Wide Receiver of All Time
With the 2025 NFL Season quickly approaching, let’s look back on the most underrated wide receiver from each NFL team. While these wide receivers have enjoyed great success with their respective clubs, they were often overshadowed by an elite talent at their position. Let’s take a look at the most underrated wide receiver from each NFL team.
Arizona Caridinals
Roy Green
While Larry Fitzgerald dominates all statistical categories by an Arizona wide receiver, and often overshadows them, Roy Green had a very successful NFL career. Green spent 12 of his 14 seasons with the then-St. Louis Cardinals. Across 12 seasons, Green found the back of the end zone 66 times (second-most among Arizona pass-catchers) and tallied 8,496 yards. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and was named a two-time first-team All-Pro.
Atlanta Falcons
Roddy White
Roddy White is just one of two Atlanta pass-catchers to tally over 10,000 yards with the franchise, but he is rarely viewed as a franchise icon as Julio Jones is. White spent all 11 seasons of his NFL career in Atlanta. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and was named first-team All-Pro once, during the 2010 campaign. During this season, he led the league in receptions (115) and tallied 1,389 yards.
Baltimore Ravens
Torrey Smith
While Mark Andrews and Derrick Mason sit at the top of the Baltimore pass-catching leaderboards, Torrey Smith was a consistent contributor in the Baltimore offense. Across four seasons in Baltimore, Smith tallied 3,591 yards, the fourth-most in franchise history. Smith was a two-time Super Bowl champion, including once with Baltimore. Smith also posted one double-digit TD campaign with the Ravens in 2014.
Buffalo Bills
Stefon Diggs
While the Bills often fell short of playoff expectations, Stefon Diggs was an elite wide receiver during his time in Buffalo. Across four seasons in Buffalo, Diggstallied the fourth-most yards in franchise history while only playing in 66 games. His 81.4 YPG is nearly 20 yards more than Buffalo legend Andre Reed. During this stretch, Diggs was a four-time Pro Bowler and was named first-team All-Pro once.
Carolina Panthers
Muhsin Muhammad
While Steve Smith Sr. (and tight end Greg Olsen) are often viewed as the top pass-catchers in franchise history, Muhsin Muhammad put together a strong career in Carolina. Across 11 seasons in Carolina (14 in the NFL), Muhammad tallied 9,255 yards. His 13.3 YPR was just 1.3 yards less than Smith’s. In addition, Muhammad found the back of the end zone 50 times, the second-most in team history.
Chicago Bears
Alshon Jeffery
While much of the Chicago Bears’ history is typically decorated with elite defensive players and running backs, Alshon Jeffery put together one of the best careers by a Chicago wideout. Through five seasons in Chicago, Jeffery tallied 4,549 yards, which is the third-highest mark in team history. However, Jeffery showcased elite efficiency as he posted a remarkable 72.7 YPG, which is just six yards less than Brandon Marshall’s franchise-leading mark. Jeffery was also named to the Pro Bowl once.
Cincinnati Bengals
A.J. Green
While the Bengals never enjoyed a long playoff run during Green’s tenure in Cincinnati, he was an elite wideout throughout his nine-year tenure with the franchise. Green was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons as a Bengal. He finished his time in Cincinnati with 9,430 yards, just over 1,000 yards less than Chad Johnson’s total, which sits at the top. However, Green posted a higher YPG and only scored one less touchdown than Johnson in 24 fewer contests.
Cleveland Browns
Gary Collins
Somehow, Garry Collins has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During a nine-year NFL career (all with Cleveland), Collins tallied 5,299 yards during a time period that was dominated by the rushing attack. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and was named first-team All-Pro once. Collins was an NFL champion and was also named to the All-1960s Hall of Fame roster.
Dallas Cowboys
Dez Bryant
Like many names on this list, the lack of postseason success of their teams caused them not to earn the respect they deserve. While Michael Irvin and now CeeDee Lamb are viewed as the top wideouts in franchise history, Dez Bryant was one of the most consistent contested catchers in the game. During his eight-year tenure in Dallas, Bryant was a three-time Pro Bowler and finished with the fourth-most yards in team history. However, he only played in 113 games and posted a strong 66.0 YPG, which is higher than Hall of Famer Drew Pearson.
Denver Broncos
Ed McCaffrey
While he does hold the career statistics that Rod Smith and Demaryius Thomas do, Ed McCaffrey was a key part of the Denver dynasty during the 1990s. During his nine-year tenure in Denver, McCaffrey was a two-time Super Bowl champion. He finished his career tallying the third-most yards and receptions in franchise history. He was also named to the Pro Bowl once and second-team All-Pro once.
Detroit Lions
Herman Moore
Calvin Johnson is not only the greatest Detroit Lions wideout of all time, but also one of the greatest in league history. As a result, Herman Moore is often overshadowed by Megatron. Moore spent all but one of his 12 NFL seasons with Detroit. As a Lion, Moore tallied 9,174 yards (second-most in team history) and brought in 62 scores. He was named first-team All-Pro in three straight seasons (1995-1997) but has yet to reach the Hall of Fame.
Green Bay Packers
Jordy Nelson
Sterling Sharpe, Donald Driver, James Loftin, and Davante Adams are widely viewed as the top wide receivers in Green Bay’s deep history. However, Jordy Nelson is rarely given the respect he deserves. During his nine-year tenure in Green Bay, he was viewed as one of Aaron Rodgers’ go-to players in the passing attack. He won a Super Bowl and posted two double-digit TD campaigns. He also caught 550 passes, which is the fourth-highest mark in team history.
Houston Texans
DeAndre Hopkins
Like the previously mentioned Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins’s time in Houston was short, but he was very effective and often underappreciated. Across just seven seasons in Houston, Hopkins tallied the second-most yards in team history and scored just 10 fewer touchdowns than Andre Johnson, who played in 58 more games with the Texans. In Houston, Hopkins was a three-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler. Hopkins was one of the top wide receivers in the league during his time as a Texan.
Indianapolis Colts
T.Y. Hilton
Outside of Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, T.Y. Hilton makes a strong case to be viewed as the No. 3 WR in team history. During his 10-year tenure with the Colts (11 NFL seasons), Hilton tallied 9,691 with 53 touchdowns. Hilton flashed elite big-playability as he posted a strong 15.4 YPR, which is higher than both Wayne’s and Harrison’s mark. Hilton, however, did not receive many in-season accolades as he was just a four-time Pro Bowler.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Allen Robinson
Allen Robinson’s time in Jacksonville was short, but he was very effective. Robinson spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jaguars. During this stretch, he tallied the fifth-most yards in franchise history and scored 22 touchdowns. He posted an impressive 66.2 YPG, which only trails Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith. Robinson was also a one-time Pro Bowler and even led the NFL in receiving touchdowns during the 2015 campaign.
Kansas City Chiefs
Dwyane Bowe
While the Kansas City receiving records are held mainly by tight ends (Tony Gonzalez and Travis Kelce), Dwyane Bowe has become quite underrated, especially following the emergence of Tyreek Hill. Bowe played the first eight of his nine NFL seasons with the Chiefs. During this stretch, Bowe was named second-team All-Pro once and the Pro Bowl once. He tallied 7,155 yards and found the back of the end zone 44 times.
Las Vegas Raiders
Cliff Branch
Hall of Famer Clif Branch is often overshadowed by Tim Brown and Fred Biletnikoff when discussing the success of the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders’ history. Branch tallied the third-most yards in franchise history and found the back of the end zone 67 times, which only trails the two previous wideouts. However, Branch was often viewed as one of the top wideouts of his era, as he was named first-team All-Pro three times and even led the league in receiving scores twice.
Los Angeles Chargers
Charlie Joiner
While Charlie Joiner does have the touchdown total that Keenan Allen, Lance Allworth, or even tight end Antonio Gates does, Joiner was one of the top wideouts in franchise history. Across 11 seasons with the then-San Diego Chargers, Joiner tallied 9,203 yards (fourth-most in team history) but only scored 47 touchdowns. Joiner, however, was very efficient with the ball, posting an impressive 15.7 YPR, which only trails Allworth among wideouts who tallied at least 9,000 yards with the franchise.
Los Angeles Rams
Cooper Kupp
While the two leaders of The Greatest Show on Turf, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, hold most records by a Ram pass-catcher, Cooper Kupp enjoyed an impressive career with the Rams. With Los Angeles, Kupp tallied 7,766 yards in just 104 games. His 74.8 YPG is higher than Bruce’s and only six yards lower than Holt’s. Kupp also enjoyed one of the best single-seasons by a wide receiver in league history when he tallied 1,947 yards with 16 touchdowns and 145 receptions en route to being named Super Bowl MVP in 2021.
Miami Dolphins
Nat Moore
Nat Moore spent his entire NFL career with the Miami Dolphins. However, even though he posted similar statistics as Mark Clayton and Mark Duper, he is rarely viewed as one of the top pass-catchers in team history. During his 13 seasons in Miami, Moore tallied 7,546 yards with 74 touchdowns. His 74 scores are the second-most in team history, just seven behind Clayton’s total. Moore was also a first-team All-Pro during the 1977 season when he led the league in receiving scores.
Minnesota Vikings
Adam Thielen
The Minnesota Vikings have an illustrious history of wide receivers featuring Randy Moss, Chris Carter, and now Justin Jefferson. However, Adam Thielen was a very effective pass catcher and led the Minnesota offense for several seasons. During his nine seasons in Minnesota, Thielen would find the back of the end zone 55 times, which is currently the third-highest mark in team history. He was also a two-time Pro Bowler and caught at least 65 passes in five seasons.
New England Patriots
Julian Edelman
While Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker (and Randy Moss for one season) typically were Tom Brady’s top options in the passing attack, slot receiver Julian Edelam was a very reliable target, especially in the postseason. Edelman would spend all 11 seasons of his NFL career with the Patriots. He finished his career with the fourth-most yards in team history. However, during the postseason, the three-time Super Bowl champion posted a stellar 75.6 YPG with a 12.2 YPR.
New Orleans Saints
Joe Horn
Joe Horn was one of the most efficient wide receivers in New Orleans Saints history. During his seven seasons in New Orleans, Horn posted a stellar 74.7 YPG, which is higher than both Marques Colston and Eric Martin, who tallied more total yards than Horn. Horn found the back of the end zone 50 times, which is second among New Orleans wideouts in franchise history. Despite his strong metrics, he never earned All-Pro status and was named to only four Pro Bowls.
New York Giants
Homer Jones
Homer Jones only spent six seasons with Big Blue but made a significant impact. Across this short stint, Jones would tally the sixth-most yards in franchise history and find the back of the end zone 35 times. During this stretch, Jones flashed elite play-making ability as he posted an eye-catching 22.6 YPR and a 66.4 YPG. His YPG mark only trails Odell Beckham Jr. among New York wideouts who tallied at least 4,500 yards.
New York Jets
Wayne Chrebet
Wayne Chrebet was one of the most consistent wideouts in team history, but never received much recognition. He currently sits with the third-most receiving yards in franchise history and the second-most receptions (only trailing Don Maynard). During his 11-year career (all with the Jets), Chrebet posted six 700+ receiving yard campaigns. However, he was never named to the Pro Bowl or given any All-Pro honors.
Philadelphia Eagles
DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Eagles. During this period, Jackson, who tallied the third-most yards in team history, was an elite playmaker. His 68.5 YPG is higher than both Harold Carmichael’s and Pete Retzlaff’s, who have more total yards with the franchise. In addition to his skills as a pass-catcher, Jackson also added four punt return touchdowns over his first four seasons in Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Lynn Swann
Even though Lynn Swann is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he is often overshadowed by Hines Ward and Antonio Brown when looking at the great Pittsburgh wideouts. However, during his nine-year NFL career (all with Pittsburgh), Swann was a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time second-team All-Pro, and a one-time first-team All-Pro. Swann also led the league in scores during his second season.
San Francisco 49ers
Gene Washington
The 49ers have a deep history of pass catchers, highlighted by the greatest of all time, Jerry Rice. While Gene Washington did not have a Hall of Fame career, he enjoyed an impressive run with San Francisco. Washington spent the first nine seasons of his 10-year career with the 49ers. During his first four seasons, he was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro. He finished his career with the fifth-most yards by a San Francisco pass-catcher.
Seattle Seahawks
Doug Baldwin
While the Legion of Boom and running back Marshawn Lynch stole most of the spotlight during Doug Baldwin’s prime, he was still a key part of the offense. Through eight seasons with Seattle, Baldwin tallied 6,563 yards with 49 touchdowns. In 2015, he led the NFL in receiving scores and was later named to two Pro Bowls in 2016 and 2017.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vincent Jackson
While Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have taken much of the spotlight away, Vincent Jackson was a productive wide receiver in the early 2010s. Jackson began his career with San Diego before spending his final five seasons in Florida. During this stretch, Jackson tallied the fifth-most yards in franchise history and found the back of the end zone 20 times. His impressive 68.7 YPG is second in team history, only behind Evans.
Tennessee Titans
Charley Hennigan
Charley Hennigan was one of the first great wideouts in team history. Playing for the then-Houston Oilers, Hennigan played just seven seasons but was one of the league’s top wideouts over this stretch. He was a three-time first-team All-Pro and was a five-time Pro Bowler. The two-time NFL champion also led the league in yards twice and receptions once.
Washington Commanders
Santana Moss
Santana Moss spent 10 of his 14 seasons with Washington. Moss would tally the fourth-most receiving yards in franchise history and find the back of the end zone 47 times. However, unlike the names above him on the franchise record books, Moss did not enjoy much postseason success. He was named second-team All-Pro once and was only named to one Pro Bowl. He tallied at least six scores in six seasons of his career.
